Step-ladder.



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MATHEW E. TRAFTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,149, dated December16, 1902.

Application filed May 7, 1902. Serial No. 106,365. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHEW E. TEAETON, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements inStep-Ladders, of which the fol- T lowing is a specification. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a step-ladder adapted for usein an orchard, and

particularly where it is desirable to place theV ladder in closeproximity to a fruit-tree for the purpose of pruning or picking `thefruit therefrom, and at the same time provide a ladder having greatrigidity, and thereby obviate the insecure feeling one has whilestanding on the usual step-ladder, which in large measure prevents theuse of same, and at same time provide a ladder not liable to break orfall down under the person using it and one which can be used withadvantage in places where the ground on which it rests is uneven.

I accomplish this object by` means of the device herein described, andshown in the ac-A companying drawing, which is a perspective view of astep-ladder embodying my invention.

In the drawing, A represents the usual uprights, upon and between whichthe steps B are secured in the usual manner. The usual top platform C isrigidly secured to the headpieces I). Extending transversely throughthese head-pieces is a main pivotal bolt E, which `pivotally unites theuprights with the head-pieces and on which bolt the uprights have aswinging movement. On the outer side of these head-pieces is astrap-hinge F,

the upper leaf of which is screwed to the headpiece and throughwhich theend of the bolt E passes, on one end of which is a screwthreaded nut E.The lower leaf of the hinge is securely attached to the top of the backstrut G, by means of which these struts have a swinging movement on thehead on a plane therewith, adapting them to be spread out at the bottom,giving the ladder great rigidity and strengthand adapting it for use onuneven ground. 'Ihe rear struts are secured to the uprights by the usualguy-ropes H. On the back of the struts and pivotally secured thereto isthe adjustable cross-brace I, comprising four members, vthe two uppermembers I' being pivoted at their upper ends, as

at e', to the rear edge of the struts, the lower ends of these membersbeing pivoted to the Yupper ends of the lower members I" and the `lowerends of the lower members being pivoted to the back edge of the struts,.as at X,

'the lower members being arranged to cross each other, as shown. Thearrangement of -this cross-brace enables me to spread. the feet Whenused onder secure and prevent any uneasy feeling Y on the part of aperson using the ladder and prevent it from tipping over. Extendingalong onthe outer side of the struts I have placed a bracing strip G' toimpart additional rigidity to the ladder. When. the feet of the strutare spread apart, the cross-braces will assume a position which permitsof putting the ladder in close proximity to or against an object, suchas a tree, land at the same time the feet can rest on the ground andprevent the ladder from tipping over, and this position will give to theplatform of the ladder a rigidity which readily adapts it for use )claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters 1. In a step-ladder, a headhaving a platform thereon the uprights carrying the steps, being pivotedthereto by a main pivotal'bolt extending therethrough; rearsupportingstruts hinged to said head so as to swing ina plane parallelwith the head; a cross-brace adjustably securing the said struts, thecrossbrace comprising four members, the upper two members pivoted attheir upper ends to the struts, and the lower ends thereof pivoted tothe upper ends of the two lower members, and the lower ends of the lowermembers pivoted to the struts, and guy-ropes extending from the uprightsto the struts.

2. The combination in a step-ladder of the character herein described ofthe uprights A carrying steps B; a platform O mounted on the head Dpivoted to the uprights swinging struts G hinged to the head; the hingeF havf and I" pivoted together ing the upper leaf screwed securely tothe head and the lower leaf screwed to the upper ends of the strutswhereby the struts are adapted to swing in a plane parallel with thehead; cross-braces I Comprising members I as shown and pivoted to thestruts as at and z; guy-ropes H extending from the struts to theuprights; and a main pivotal bolt E extending through 1o the head andalso through the upper ends of the uprights, thereby pivoting the headand uprights together, substantially as shown and described.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 16th day of I5' April, 1902.

MATHEW E. TRAFION.y Witnesses:

HENRY T. HAZARD, G. E. HARPHAM.

